Cushion-tire.



H. E. SCHLIEBS.

CUSHION TIRE.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 2, I9I4. 1,147,977. Patented July 27, 1915.

. 2 SHEETS-SHEET I.

H. E. SCHLIEBS.

CUSHION TIRE.

APPLICATION FILED NOV- 2 1914.

1,147,977. Patented 27, 1915.

2 su SHEET 2.

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HERMAN E. SCHLIEEBS, 0F SOUTH BEND, INDIANA.

CUSHION-TIRE.

i Specification of Letters Patent.

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Application filed November 2, 13154. Serial N o. 869,887. Y

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HERMAN E.' Soi-ILIEBS, a citizen of the United States, residing at 228 Colfax avenue, Southv Bend, in the county of St. Joseph and State of Indiana,

have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Cushion-Tires; and 'l do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates broadly to improvements in vehicle tires and more particularly to those of the cushion type.

The main object of the invention is to provide a comparatively simple tire which will possess a number of advantageous features, and which may be easily and cheaply manufactured.

In carrying out the above end, a further object of the invention is to provide independent cushions for the inner and outer ends of a plurality of springs employed,

` whereby small shocks will be merely imparted to said cushions whereas more forcible shocks will be absorbed by the springs.

With the above and minor objects in view, the invention resides in certain novel features of construction and combination herein described and claimed and shown in the drawings wherein:

Figure 1 is a verticallongitudinal section through a portion of a tire constructed in accordance with my invention; Figs. 2 and 3 are transverse sections `as seen on the planes of the lines 2-2 and 33 of Fig. 1; Fig. 4 is asimilar view showinga slightly modified form of construction; and Fig. 5 is a detail transverse section showing yet another form of construction.

In the accompanying drawings, from Figs. l to 3 inclusive, the numerals 1 designate a plurality of arcuately spaced sections which are preferably surrounded by an ordinary casing 2. Since all of the sections l are identical, but one will be described.

As most clearly seen in Figs. 2 and 3, each section of the tire includes an outer block 3 which is corrugated and rounded on its outer face to conform to the interior shape of the casing, while its inner side is provided with a comparatively deep longitudinal groove 4 disposed at its transverse center, and with a pair of comparatively shallow grooves 5 spaced between the edges of the block and the groove 4. Each of the above mentioned sections, in addition to the block 3, includes an inner block 6 which is here shown as provided with a central longitudinal groove? inl its outer face, whereby to provide a structure substantially V-shaped in cross section.

Interposed between the inner and outer blocks 3 and 6, is a substantially elliptical leaf spring S which is formed of a single strip of metal whose ends meet at the inner side of the spring, said ends contacting with the outer face of the block 6 and being turned inwardly into the groove 7, in which position they are secured by bolts 9 which are passed through the block 6 and which preferably have their heads countersunk on the inner side thereof.

It will be noted, that the outer side of the spring 8 is shaped to the format-ion of the inner side of the block 3, its central portion being bulged outwardly into the groove 4,

while its intermediate portions likewise areV extended into the shallow grooves 5. Vhen in this position, a bolt 10 is passed inwardly through saidblock 3 and through the adjacent side of the spring 8, the inner end of said bolt being threaded for the reception of a nut ll'which carries an eye 12.

The sections, constructed as above described, are spaced at intervals around the circumference of the tire and are located within the casing 2 as above suggested, said sections being hield against relative shifting, by a plurality of flexible elements 13 here `shown in the form of coil springs having their opposite ends formed into eyes interengaging the eyes 12.

The blocks 3 and 6 are preferably formed of rubber or other resilient material, whereby slight jars will be absorbed thereby but, under forcible jars, said blocks will be compressed to their limit thereby causing the springs 8 to come into action. .By constructing the device to operate in this manner, it has been found that an extremely resilient tire is obtained.

In Fig. 4 a section 1 is shown as inclosed in a casing 2 and as including an outer block 3, an inner block 6 and a substantially elliptical leaf spring 8 interposed between the two. In this case, however, the outer block 3 is shown as provided with a plural ity of openings 15 which pass therethrough and are designed to increase the resiliency of said blocks. It is likewise to be noted that the inner side of said block 3 is grooved as at 1l but to a less eXtent than the block 3, the outer side of the spring S being shaped to iit said groove and being held in this position by a screw 10 whose inner end is in the form of an eye l2', the threaded shank of said screw passing outwardly through the adjacent side of the spring S and being threaded into a nut l1 which is embedded and anchored in the block 3.

Although the features, just described, are practically identical with those previously described, they illustrate another embodiment of my invention which may well be employed.

In the form of the invention seen in Fig. il, it will be seen that the inner block 6 is provided with a comparatively deep groove 7 into which the free ends of the spring 8. are bent and in which they are secured by bolts 9. In this form of the device, as well as in the form previously described, the inner and outer blocks are formed of resilient material and conform to the shape of the casing as do also the ends lof the springs.

In Fig. 5, a portion of a casing 2 is illustrated in the inner portion of which a resilient block 6 is located, a U-bolt 9 being embedded in said block and having its ends projecting outwardly therefrom through the free ends of a spring 8". This construction is typical of one of a number of ways in which the springs may be secured to the blocks.

From the foregoing description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, it will be seen that a comparatively simple device has been provided for carrying out the objects of the invention, yet one whose efficiency Will not be impaired by such simplicity.

I claim:

1. A tire composed of an annular series of sections each comprising an outer block, an

inner block, a substantially elliptical spring between the inner and outer blocks, a bolt uniting onebloch with one side of the spring, and an eye carried by the bolt, combined with a plurality of flexible elements connecting'the sections one to the other, said elements having their` ends attached to said eyes. f

2. A tire composed of an annular series of spaced sections each comprising an inner block, an outer block, a substantially elliptical leaf spring interposed between the two blocks and formed of a vsingle strip of metal whose ends substantially meet on one side of the spring, fastening elements connecting said endsto one block, a third 'fastening element connecting the opposite side of the spring to the other block, and an eye carried by one of said fasteners and located within the spring, combined with a plurality of flexible elements connecting the sections one to the other and having their ends attached to said eyes. v

3. The combination with a tire casing, and a plurality of circumferentially spaced units therein each comprising an inner and an outer cushioning block, and a metal cushioning spring between thev twor and secured thereto, an eye carried by each unit, and a plurality of circumferentially disposed coiled springs interposed between the various units and having their ends connected to the eyes thereof.

In testimony whereof I rhave hereunto set my hand in presence of two subscribing witnesses. j j

HERMAN E. SCHLIEBS. Y

Vitnesses:

EDWIN A. MARTIN. GAYLORD H. Casa Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by .addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. C. 

